A new alert has been issued to all smartphone owners in the UKK this week.
The winter is starting to bite in the UK, with temperatures across the country expected to freeze for most of this week. Due to an Arctic blast heading our way, some areas could see temperatures drop to under -5 degrees, which could be bad for heating bills and have dire consequences for smartphones.
Just like all things powered by batteries, call makers really don’t like the cold. In fact, experts warn that exposing your precious gadget to extreme temperatures could cause ‘permanent damage’.
Apple also warns users to be careful during the winter months with the US tech firm stating on its help pages that, “Using an iOS or iPadOS device in very cold conditions outside of its operating range might temporarily shorten battery life and could cause your device to turn off.”
Now, the team at Uswitch has issued a warning and some top tips on how to prevent your smartphone from being affected by the weather.
The comparison site’s resident tech guru, Richard Dowden, says there are five things to remember when it gets cold, including not leaving your phone in the car, being careful when charging a cold device and placing a case on it to keep things a little warmer.
Here athe re top 5 tips to keep your iPhone and Android device safe during the cold snap.
Don’t leave your phone in the car as this can cause permanent water damage once you bring it in from the cold. That’s due to chemical reactions inside the device. If you do leave your phone out in the cold for a prolonged period, be sure to allow it to come back up to room temperature before you charge it again.
It’s a good idea to charge before you go. Colder weather hurts the battery life of many tech devices. The lithium-ion batteries found in smartphones are known to struggle in cold temperatures, so be mindful of this and give it a full charge before you take it outdoors, as you may find the battery will drain faster than normal.
Put a jacket on it to stop things getting cold. That’s one of the best ways you can keep your phone warm and avoid battery drain is by keeping it in a protective case that’s insulated from the elements. Keeping it in a secure pocket can also help, as it will benefit from your body temperature.
Power down if you’re going to be exposed to sub-zero temperatures. You can help conserve your phone battery by turning on low power mode, turning off location services and closing down apps running in the background. You could also put it on Airplane Mode, which will still give you access to apps that don’t require an internet connection.
Get things backed up. Most consumer tech is designed to operate at temperatures between 0℃ and 35℃. So if your devices are exposed to colder temperatures than this, ensure your data is backed up to avoid any loss or damage to the battery life.
